Vacation

Dear December 2018,

You were the best!!! Christmas time is always the best time, but now that we are a family of 5… Everything was better than ever! We filled the month with family holiday functions and made sure the girls knew the real reason for the season – Jesus – Love came down! From live nativities to Santa, we did it all and made so many wonderful memories along the way. The best part of the month had to be our first Christmas Vacation and it was one we will never forget. Getting away to cold weather and indulging in Christmas spirit made this Christmas season our best yet! And it was so much fun watching Kensie enjoy her first Christmas! Thank you December 2018 for a month we adored.

We are so excited for 2019 and a new January of family-fun!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – December 2018 ::

Dear November 2018,

What a great month!

You were a month filled with gratefulness, thankfulness, and the reminder of kindness. November, we filled you up with great moments and treasured times… Mainly Kensie’s first cross-country adventure and our hubby/wife trip to Washington D.C. DC was beyond words – FABULOUS! We also celebrated daddy’s birthday, Thanksgiving, our first girl-only STAYcation slumber party and Christmas came early this year with decorating the house and setting up the tree.

November you were good to us, but we are so excited for Christmas and the holiday month of December! Bring on Jesus’ BIRTHDAY!!!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – November 2018 ::

Dear July 2018,

WOW doesn’t even cover it, what a month! You were a month of FIRSTS and very special occasions. First day of first grade, first day of preschool, and Kensie’s first swim, staycation & Diamondbacks Game! We had a 6th birthday, baby girl turned 3 months old, and we made our first trip to the mountains as a family of five! It was definitely one of my favorite months for our family, mainly because we made the most of every moment. Yay for family time!

August, you have very large shoes to fill! We are excited to see where this new school year takes us!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – July 2018 ::

My husband and I recently celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary with a STAYcation at one of our favorites! When you live in a state that offers some of the most beautiful resort options available, why leave town to have a good time!? As you already know from my previous posts, we are big fans of STAYcations and constantly promote the idea of staying nearby and enjoying all of the amenities that your city and state have to offer! We selected the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa because it holds a special place in our hearts and is filled with sweet memories over the last 9 years of our relationship. Plus, it is beyond fabulous!

The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona is simply stunning! From the second you walk in, you feel like you’re at a desert oasis. The pool area is magnificent with different areas to lounge and delight in their decadent drinks and poolside food. You can also jump on a raft and float along the lazy river. With several different pools to chose from, our personal favorite is the waterfall pool because you get an awesome experience of a tranquil waterfall with a nearby DJ providing musical glory!

The JW Marriott Desert Ridge offers a fabulous grand entrance, and the rooms are so accomodating; once you arrive, there is no reason to leave. They have everything you could possibly need, want or desire on site: an incredible spa, a full service Starbucks, a large store/souvenir shop, nightly live music, top notch restaurants, kids activities, golf course and unbelievable views in every direction you look.

Don’t just take my word for it, enjoy a few photos from our amazing weekend away and trust me you, too, will want to stay here!

Dear July 2017,

You were a very toasty month for us in AZ so we enjoyed our California beach getaway. You were also a month filled with milestone moments for our first born. She got her first haircut, started Kindergarten and celebrated her fifth birthday! So many sweet and bittersweet moments. Our littlest one started dance and it has become a highlight of each week. There is something so cute about a 2 year old fluttering around in a leotard and tutu.

We have so much to be thankful for and looking back at these 9 photos is such a great reminder to be present and enjoy every minute. #feelingblessed

August, my only hope is that you bring more monsoon weather and of course more FUN!!!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – July 2017 ::

We took our girls out to the woods of Prescott, Arizona for their first camping weekend as a family of four. To give you a little perspective, our girls are 4.5 and 2.5 years old and this was our first time all sleeping together in one small space… without a pack n’ play! My husband was raised camping and in the outdoors so he had been dreaming of the day that our girls would be old enough to enjoy a trip like this, and this was our first attempt. To say it went well is an understatement… much to my surprise it went great! But don’t get me wrong, with any trip you come across a few hiccups here and there. But, it was so much fun to take the girls off the grid, push everyday rules to the side and just let them enjoy being kids for the trip… and I know that we made memories as a family they will not forget.

If you are like me, and questioning whether or not your family is ready for a camping trip, I say go for it! You will never know until you try. And to help you out, here are a few of my ‘camping with kids’ recommendations. I hope these ideas help make your trip extra enjoyable for all – we all want happy campers!

Dear June 2017,

June, you definitely cranked up the heat here in Arizona, so it has been a month of water fun! You marked our 9 year wedding anniversary and we were able to enjoy a STAYcation filled with umbrella drinks and poolside lounging. We also had the best time celebrating our daddy bear on Father’s Day and snuck away to the mountains for our first family camping trip. But, don’t let all the fun outdoor adventures fool you, if we weren’t swimming, we were inside basking in air conditioning and the girls enjoyed indoor summer camps! Thank goodness for indoor activities!

We are so excited and thankful to get to enjoy one more month of family fun before school starts, so please be kind, July.

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – June 2017 ::

This trip came at the perfect time. It’s amazing how you don’t realize you need a break from reality until you finally get one! My hubby had a work trip in Sedona, AZ, and so with the help of my parents, we were able to turn it into a kid-free getaway as well. April is a fabulous time to visit Sedona as it offers cooler temps and fabulous outdoor activities!

While my husband spent half days at a work conference, I was extremely blessed with a refreshing few days filled with beautiful hikes, relaxing pool-side quiet time and taking in the incredible 70° Sedona weather. I was also able to enjoy some much-appreciated pampering, quality time with my hubby, and time to reflect and work on me.

As you all requested here is the scoop on our trip, a little Sedona Recap for you! If you are planning an upcoming Sedona vacay you will love these recommendations! Continue Reading

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BlueLizardSummer #CollectiveBias

Now that Arizona has hit the triple digits, splash pad season is upon us. With the amount of time we spend outside and as an Arizona mama of two fair skinned girls, that means we need to take sun protection seriously. One way I do so is always being prepared, and since we are always on the go, I like to keep a splash pad essential bag in my car at all times. This keeps us ready for any adventure that comes our way! I have found that there are a few essential items to have in your bag to keep you SUN-ready, but there is one that you can’t leave home without… Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen Baby!

What to pack for your kiddos… Splash Pad Essentials

One of the best parts about going on vacation is trying out new restaurants and not having to cook, can I get an AMEN?! But, when you are a visitor in a new city, it can be challenging to find the best restaurants. Thankfully we were in great hands at The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, because of their incredible Concierge, Gordon. I seriously can’t say enough wonderful things about Gordon, he ensured a tasty success for every meal we ate on our San Diego family vacation. Thanks to his recommendations we were able to not just enjoy, but absolutely LOVE our dining experiences in San Diego! Gordon listened to our palatal aspirations and was able to provide us with family-friendly locations to eat and explore. He embraced the fact that we were foodies traveling with kids and provided us with unique and memorable dining experiences that were also family-friendly environments. Here is a recap of some of our favorite restaurants that we discovered on our San Diego family vacation. Continue Reading